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Assad allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over five innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday.

Advice: Assad needed 92 pitches to get through five frames, but he was effective during his time on the mound, limiting the Giants to just a fourth-inning run. However, the right-hander couldn't pick up his first win since mid-May, as Chicago's offense wasn't able to push across a run until after his departure. Nonetheless, this was a nice bounce-back for Assad after he surrendered seven earned runs over 10.1 frames across his previous two outings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:47 pm

Javier Assad allowed one run in five innings and got a no-decision against the Giants on Monday.



Advice: Assad gave up five hits, walked two and struck out seven. He won four of his first nine starts of the season, but hasn’t won any of his last six starts. Assad struck out at least seven batters for the fourth time in his last five starts. His ERA is now 2.75 on the year. The 26-year-old right-hander is set to face the Mets at home this weekend.

Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:22 pm

Kikuchi (4-6) allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings Monday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Boston.

Advice: Kikuchi was cursed by the long ball Monday, coughing up four solo shots in the first three innings. Tyler O'Neill accounted for two of them, including in the first inning when he went back-to-back with Rafael Devers. Kikuchi had allowed just four home runs over his previous six starts entering Monday and had not given up multiple long balls in any start this season. He's registered a 6.17 ERA over his last five starts, bumping his season ERA to 3.65 through 81.1 frames. Kikuchi's next start is projected to be in Cleveland. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:43 pm

Hicks (illness) will start Monday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Advice: Giants manager Bob Melvin acknowledged after Hicks' most recent outing in Tuesday's loss to the Astros that the right-hander had been sick for several days leading up to the start. The illness might have played a factor in Hicks' lackluster numbers versus Houston (three runs allowed on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings), but it won't cause him to miss his next turn through the rotation. With the ailment further in the rear-view mirror while he takes the hill Monday on five days' rest, Hicks will look to recapture the strong form he displayed earlier in the season. Even though he's failed to meet the threshold for a quality start in each of his last eight appearances, Hicks heads into Monday's game with a 3.01 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:06 am

Bradford (rib/back) said June 5 that he has begun playing catch off flat ground from 120 feet, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Advice: Bradford turned some heads by opening the season with three wins and a 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through his first three starts, but he's been on the shelf since mid-April with a lower back strain and a small stress fracture of a rib. Nearly two months later, Bradford is finally throwing again, and assuming that he's responding well to long tossing, he could be cleared for bullpen sessions in the next week or two. Bradford is without a clear target date for a return from the 60-day injured list, but he may not have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's activated, as Max Scherzer (back/arm) and Tyler Mahle (elbow) could both rejoin the big club before him. Rotowire.com Sunday, 4:39 pm